Lawrence County, Kentucky

County in Kentucky, United States

County in Kentucky

Lawrence County

County

Lawrence County Courthouse in Louisa

Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky

Kentucky's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 38°04′N 82°44′W﻿ / ﻿38.06°N 82.73°W﻿ / 38.06; -82.73
Country|  United States
State|  Kentucky
Founded| December 14, 1821
Named for| James Lawrence
Seat| Louisa
Largest city| Louisa
Area

• Total

| 420 sq mi (1,100 km2)
• Land| 416 sq mi (1,080 km2)
• Water| 4.5 sq mi (12 km2)  1.1%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 16,293

• Estimate

(2023)

| 16,000
• Density| 39/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district| 5th
Website| lawrencecountyky.gov

Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,293.[1] Its county seat is Louisa.[2] The county is named for James Lawrence,[3] and co-founded by Isaac Bolt, who served as a Lawrence County Commissioner and Justice of the Peace. It is the birthplace of country music star Tyler Childers, late Chief Justice of the United States Frederick Moore Vinson, and former Kentucky Governor Paul E. Patton. In regard to alcoholic beverage sales, Lawrence County is considered a "moist" county, meaning alcohol sales are only allowed within the city limits of Louisa.

## History

[edit]

Lawrence County was established in 1821 from land given by Floyd and Greenup Counties.[4] Four courthouses have served Lawrence County; the first was completed in 1823.[5]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 420 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 416 square miles (1,080 km2) is land and 4.5 square miles (12 km2) (1.1%) is water.[6]

The bridge from Louisa, in eastern Lawrence County, to Fort Gay, West Virginia is a rare multi-way T-bridge. The quarter-mile concrete span spans across the Levisa Fork and the Tug River that come together and form the Big Sandy River, connects two states and has a right turn at its halfway point, which connects traffic to the Point Section neighborhood of Louisa.

### Yatesville Lake State Park

[edit]

Yatesville Lake was opened in 1992 and is a 2,300 acres (9.3 km2) reservoir managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Yatesville Lake provides flood control for the region as well as recreational opportunities. The Corps manages a boat ramp at the Rich Creek area.

### Bordering Counties

[edit]

* Carter County (northwest)
* Boyd County (north)
* Wayne County, West Virginia (east)
* Martin County (southeast)
* Johnson County (south)
* Morgan County (southwest)
* Elliott County (west)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1830| 3,900| | —
1840| 4,730| | 21.3%
1850| 6,281| | 32.8%
1860| 7,601| | 21.0%
1870| 8,497| | 11.8%
1880| 13,262| | 56.1%
1890| 17,702| | 33.5%
1900| 19,612| | 10.8%
1910| 20,067| | 2.3%
1920| 17,643| | −12.1%
1930| 16,713| | −5.3%
1940| 17,275| | 3.4%
1950| 14,418| | −16.5%
1960| 12,134| | −15.8%
1970| 10,726| | −11.6%
1980| 14,121| | 31.7%
1990| 13,998| | −0.9%
2000| 15,569| | 11.2%
2010| 15,860| | 1.9%
2020| 16,293| | 2.7%
2023 (est.)| 16,000| [7]| −1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,569 people, 5,954 households, and 4,477 families in the county. The population density was 37 per square mile (14/km2). There were 7,040 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.93% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.41%.[12] were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 5,954 households 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.30% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were non-families. 22.40% of households were one person and 10.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.02.

The age distribution was 25.30% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.00 males.

The median household income was $21,610 and the median family income was $26,113. Males had a median income of $30,735 versus $19,174 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,008. About 25.30% of families and 30.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.00% of those under age 18 and 27.30% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

[edit]

United States presidential election results for Lawrence County, Kentucky[13] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 5,464  | 83.12% | 1,044  | 15.88%  | 66  | 1.00%
2020 | 5,633  | 80.99% | 1,238  | 17.80%  | 84  | 1.21%
2016 | 4,816  | 79.71% | 1,045  | 17.30%  | 181  | 3.00%
2012 | 3,995  | 71.44% | 1,520  | 27.18%  | 77  | 1.38%
2008 | 3,503  | 62.01% | 2,036  | 36.04%  | 110  | 1.95%
2004 | 3,755  | 57.65% | 2,705  | 41.53%  | 53  | 0.81%
2000 | 2,969  | 55.94% | 2,258  | 42.55%  | 80  | 1.51%
1996 | 1,812  | 40.24%  | 2,195  | 48.75% | 496  | 11.01%
1992 | 2,084  | 41.21%  | 2,400  | 47.46% | 573  | 11.33%
1988 | 2,294  | 50.89% | 2,198  | 48.76%  | 16  | 0.35%
1984 | 2,713  | 54.71% | 2,223  | 44.83%  | 23  | 0.46%
1980 | 2,564  | 51.49% | 2,362  | 47.43%  | 54  | 1.08%
1976 | 1,838  | 42.91%  | 2,402  | 56.08% | 43  | 1.00%
1972 | 2,392  | 60.48% | 1,529  | 38.66%  | 34  | 0.86%
1968 | 1,946  | 45.80% | 1,825  | 42.95%  | 478  | 11.25%
1964 | 1,745  | 39.17%  | 2,703  | 60.67% | 7  | 0.16%
1960 | 3,030  | 54.69% | 2,510  | 45.31%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 2,932  | 53.92% | 2,495  | 45.88%  | 11  | 0.20%
1952 | 2,696  | 50.85% | 2,597  | 48.98%  | 9  | 0.17%
1948 | 2,117  | 46.50%  | 2,372  | 52.10% | 64  | 1.41%
1944 | 2,715  | 52.87% | 2,408  | 46.89%  | 12  | 0.23%
1940 | 3,055  | 48.86%  | 3,178  | 50.83% | 19  | 0.30%
1936 | 2,944  | 48.04%  | 3,175  | 51.81% | 9  | 0.15%
1932 | 2,766  | 42.59%  | 3,701  | 56.99% | 27  | 0.42%
1928 | 3,277  | 59.59% | 2,217  | 40.32%  | 5  | 0.09%
1924 | 2,547  | 50.16% | 2,445  | 48.15%  | 86  | 1.69%
1920 | 2,849  | 52.44% | 2,558  | 47.08%  | 26  | 0.48%
1916 | 1,928  | 49.67% | 1,910  | 49.20%  | 44  | 1.13%
1912 | 1,280  | 35.48%  | 1,648  | 45.68% | 680  | 18.85%

Lawrence County is a state bellwether in presidential elections, having voted for Kentucky's statewide winner in every election since 1956.[14]

### Elected officials

[edit]

Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[15][16]

U.S. House | Hal Rogers (R)  | KY 5
Ky. Senate | Phillip Wheeler (R)  | 31
Ky. House | Scott Sharp (R)  | 100

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Blaine
* Louisa (county seat)

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Buchanan
* Cherryville
* Fallsburg
* Kise
* Mazie
* Ulysses
* Lowmansville
* Webbville
* Zelda

## See also

[edit]

* United States portal

* Dry counties
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Lawrence County, Kentucky
* Purgatory (Tyler Childers album)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 35.
4. ^ "Lawrence County". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. 2000. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
5. ^ Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Ancestry Publishing. p. 268\. ISBN 9780916489496. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
15. ^ "Senate Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
16. ^ "House Members - County". apps.legislature.ky.gov. Kentucky General Assembly. Retrieved January 3, 2025.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Rennick, Robert M. (2000). "Lawrence County -- Post Offices & Place Names". County Histories of Kentucky (244). Morehead State University.

## External links

[edit]

* Lawrence County Schools
* Lawrence County Tourism Commission
* The Kentucky Highlands Project

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Lawrence County, Kentucky, United States

County seat: Louisa

Cities|

* Blaine
* Louisa

Location of Lawrence County, Kentucky

Unincorporated
communities|

* Adams
* Chapman
* Cordell
* Deephole
* Fallsburg
* Holt
* Irad
* Kise
* Lowmansville
* Martha
* Mazie
* Buchanan
* Orr
* Overda
* Peach Orchard
* Richardson
* Torchlight
* Trinity
* Ulysses
* Webbville
* Zelda

* Kentucky portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Eastern Kentucky Coal Field region

Counties|

* Bell
* Boyd
* Breathitt
* Carter
* Clay
* Elliott
* Floyd
* Greenup
* Harlan
* Jackson
* Johnson
* Knott
* Knox
* Laurel
* Lawrence
* Lee
* Leslie
* Letcher
* Magoffin
* Martin
* McCreary
* Menifee
* Montgomery
* Morgan
* Owsley
* Perry
* Pike
* Powell
* Rowan
* Whitley
* Wolfe

Cities and towns
Over 10k|

* Ashland

Cities and towns
5k-10k|

* Corbin
* Flatwoods
* Hazard
* London
* Middlesboro
* Morehead
* Mount Sterling
* Pikeville
* Williamsburg

Cities and towns
1k-5k|

* Barbourville
* Beattyville
* Catlettsburg
* Clay City
* Coal Run Village
* Cumberland
* Grayson
* Greenup
* Harlan
* Jackson
* Jeffersonville
* Jenkins
* Louisa
* Manchester
* Olive Hill
* Paintsville
* Pineville
* Prestonsburg
* Raceland
* Russell
* Salyersville
* South Shore
* Stanton
* West Liberty
* Whitesburg
* Worthington
* Wurtland

Cities and towns
under 1k|

* Allen
* Annville
* Bellefonte
* Benham
* Blackey
* Blaine
* Booneville
* Buckhorn
* Camargo
* Campton
* Elkhorn City
* Evarts
* Fleming-Neon
* Frenchburg
* Hindman
* Hyden
* Inez
* Lakeview Heights
* Loyall
* Lynch
* Martin
* McKee
* Oneida
* Pippa Passes
* Sandy Hook
* Vicco
* Wallins Creek
* Warfield
* Wayland
* Wheelwright

Statistical areas|

* Ashland
* London
* Middlesboro
* Mount Sterling

See also|

* Kentucky portal

* v
* t
* e

Commonwealth of Kentucky

Frankfort (capital)

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areas|

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Counties|

* Adair
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Kentucky portal

38°04′N 82°44′W﻿ / ﻿38.06°N 82.73°W﻿ / 38.06; -82.73

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